Smoke Pencil Puffer Research

I am a manufacturer’s representative for Chimney Balloon USA. Since Chimney Balloons are air sealing devices for the fireplace, I use a smoke pencil to exhibit the effectiveness of this product. I conducted an informal evaluation of three common types of smoke pencil to select one to complement the Chimney Balloon product line. I hope the information I gathered is helpful to anyone involved in air sealing work, blower door and Duct Blaster testing, or just detecting drafts.
I decided to test three common types of smoke pencils that do not require flame to ignite or maintain their smoke. I purchased two of them for the test and borrowed one from an insulation contractor customer. The smoke pencils were tested in a low-light fireplace flue application, in a bright-light window and door application, and in a medium-light garage application to see how visible the smoke was, how it reacted to air currents, how easy the pencil was to operate, and if the smoke was a sensory irritant in a closed in space.
Acid-Based Smoke Puffers
The most common acid-based smoke puffers are the Retrotec and TT Smoke Sticks. These operate on a mixture of acids that create the ...